GDT 9/26/23 Pittsburgh Pirates (Keller, M) @ Philadelphia Phillies (Nola, Aa)

[bkox]

[bkeich]

Good to see Rojas clinch for us. Hopefully he is our starting CF and lead off hitter for the next decade.

Great that he is going to get the first playoff experience as a rookie.

[HopeSpringsEternal]

You called it Zamby - predicted that the Phillies had a great chance to clinch at home versus the Pirates

[zambonir]

And the goggles and bottles are out for the berth, whether they nail down the top seed tonight or now.

[bkox]

Bailey Falter, a former Phillie, is the lone Pirate left in the dugout watching the celebration pic.twitter.com/UnC2NYIgO7

— Justice delos Santos ( @justdelossantos ) September 27, 2023

[zambonir]

he'll be back for his ring!

[zambonir]

nope, don't need to act like you've been there before, carpe freakin' diem and enjoy every sandwich.

[zambonir]

from the tweet

[zambonir]

Cubs lose

[Philsmania]

Just got back from the game. Eight largely frustrating innings but an exhilarating finish! We are going to the Dance!

[bkox]

Let Michael Lorenzen play CF tomorrow https://t.co/Cu6SI4F4IY

— Matt Winkelman ( @Matt_Winkelman ) September 27, 2023

[bkeich]

Funny to see the last plate appearance. If they had somehow gotten Pache at home I honestly think Rojas would have ended up at 3rd. He hit 2nd base at the same time Pache scored which is just crazy fast.

[DurhamBull]

Bailey Falter, a former Phillie, is the lone Pirate left in the dugout watching the celebration

For those with weak memories like mine, I'll add what I learned when I looked it up -- Falter was drafted by the Phils and spent his entire career in the organization until he was traded this August. He's only 26 and probably already a millionaire so he's already been very fortunate, but that's still a tough moment.

[zambonir]

No offense but that's a really short memory! I mean, he was our #5 starter and only just got traded on on August 1.

I actually think it was probably more bittersweet for him than painful. He was watching what he missed but he was also watching his friends, and something he was a part of (despite his poor individual contribution this year).

[andyb]

No ghost runners in the postseason so maybe we actually need a pinch hitter in a 14-inning game where the DH has to move to the field. I'd give Lorenzen an AB or two for fun. All the bench players need 2-3 starts like Stubbs too and even Castro. They have really been under-utilized in the last month.

[zambonir]

Also an opportunity to see what Kerkering looks like back-to-back.

But no way Lorenzen gets an AB IMO. Both he and the Phillies have been pretty clear about not doing it, it's an injury risk, and the focus should also be on what kind of pitching role they want for him (and then simulating that in 1-2 of these games).

If he's needed to PH or PR in the actual playoffs, sure, then you don't worry about the risk/distraction.

I'm sure Castro will play today but he doesn't really need to play to get ready for a post-season he'll never see. Let Cave and Sosa and Pache start every game. Stubbs too, sure, but more to rest JT (he also, ideally, won't get a single post-season AB again).

[bkox]

Let Cave and Sosa and Pache start every game. Stubbs too, sure, but more to rest JT

Well we want rest and not rust. How often have we seen teams that have 1st round byes looking kinda rusty and with their timing off? We still have 5 games. Our regulars should still start a couple of them.. rest em today.. but let them play the last home game tomorrow.

then maybe the Saturday game in NY.

[Philsmania]

I don't know about play the reserves every day. The regulars need their reps. At the very least, Wednesday will be the B Team (Stubbs at C, Sosa and Castro on the left side of the infield, Cave at 1B, Pache in center. Stott will still need to start, however, as will Casty and Marsh.

[andyb]

I'm sure Castro will play today but he doesn't really need to play to get ready for a post-season he'll never see.

The problem though is we are one injury away from needing any bench player. Yes it is possible he is the 14th man on a 13-man postseason roster. It is also very possible we'll have an injury or two along the way.

5 games left - regular starters only need to play 2 or 3 of them. Everyone should play this last week.

[zambonir]

Yeah I don't really mean play the bench every day for all five games. Plenty of playing time to go around.

As little as Castro as played, and as little regard as they seemed to have for him (along with the option loophole) I doubt he's even the first or second man up in event of injury, unless Sosa or Turner get hurt. I think Clemens and Wilson will be just as possible.

I'm not sure the rest vs. rust thing really matters, in that playing meaningless games doesn't necessarily prepare you for anything either. It could just as easily be a sim game. The teams with byes appear to be less prepared than the other team because the other team is already operating at peak playoff intensity. There's no way to sim that.